“Spin-outs should be seen as clean, positive exits from research - not as risky side projects.”

Turning breakthrough research into real-world impact has long been a challenge in Europe’s innovation landscape — but Berlin may be closing that gap faster than expected. At the intersection of grassroots startup energy and cutting-edge science, a new model is taking shape: one that’s faster, founder-friendly, and rooted in community.

Travis Todd, co-founder of Silicon Allee at Fraunhofer HHI, has spent the past decade helping shape Berlin’s tech scene from the ground up. Now, he’s helping redefine how deep tech spinouts are born — not from top-down mandates, but by aligning researchers and founders around shared goals.

In this interview, Travis shares how his journey from startup founder to ecosystem builder informs Silicon Allee’s work today, why traditional tech transfer is broken, and how cultural shifts — not just structural reforms — are key to unlocking Europe’s innovation potential. We also talk about what makes a great AI startup, how Berlin stacks up against the U.S., and what emerging technologies could define the next wave of impact.

Hello Travis, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. You’ve journeyed from startup founder to ecosystem builder and then into the research side of things. How has your “outsider‑turned‑insider” perspective shaped the design of Silicon Allee’s venture model at Fraunhofer HHI — and what’s been the most surprising insight this role has uncovered?

Coming from the startup world, I’ve seen how quickly things can move when the incentives are right. At Fraunhofer HHI, we’re building a model that blends that startup agility with deep scientific expertise - and that means rethinking the assumptions baked into traditional tech transfer.

One of the biggest surprises has been how differently researchers and founders approach risk, ownership, and outcomes - but also how aligned they actually are in their motivations. Both want to solve real problems and make a lasting impact. The key is finding a system that respects the integrity of research while supporting the pace and flexibility startups need.

As Head of Silicon Allee, how would you describe the unique role Silicon Allee plays in Berlin’s startup ecosystem?

Silicon Allee started over a decade ago as a grassroots effort to bring founders together - before Berlin had much of an ecosystem at all. We’ve stayed community-led and internationally focused, helping newcomers feel at home and plugged into opportunities fast.

Now, working with Fraunhofer HHI, we’re bridging that community energy with world-class research. It’s a unique mix: institutional credibility meets founder empathy. That combination helps us move fast, build trust, and create spin-outs that actually have a shot.

In a recent talk at GITEX Europe in Berlin you described tech transfer today as a “five‑headed monster” — from licensing fees and equity grabs to veto rights and slow negotiations. Which of these barriers is the most urgent to dismantle, and how is Fraunhofer HHI targeting that specifically?

If I had to pick one, it’s culture. The default mindset in most institutions is about control - of IP, of process, of risk - and that just doesn’t work for startups. But culture is also the hardest to shift.

So we’re starting with what we can change quickly: the contracts. That means no licensing fees, no 20% equity grabs, no veto rights. We’re also using virtual shares instead of equity to keep cap tables clean. These small structural changes can create space for bigger mindset shifts.

Silicon Allee has a strong commitment to connecting entrepreneurs with investors and experts. Could you share some examples of how this network has tangibly accelerated startups’ growth?

Definitely. One of the best parts of our network is how naturally these connections turn into real traction. We’ve had advisors get so excited they ended up investing in the companies - and in one case, that investment already had a successful exit. Some advisors even went on to become co-founders.

For us, it’s about creating the environment where smart, values-aligned people find each other early - and start building before the paperwork even catches up.

Europe spends over €300 billion on research annually, yet less than 10% ever becomes commercially viable. Beyond the structural reforms you’ve implemented, what cultural or mindset shifts do you believe are essential throughout Berlin’s research and investment communities to truly flip that percentage?

We need to stop seeing startups as an afterthought to research. Instead, treat them as one of the most legitimate and effective ways to deliver public value.

That means including commercialisation plans in grant applications, rewarding implementation - not just publication - and recognising that failure is part of the journey. Spin-outs should be seen as clean, positive exits from research - not as risky side projects.

In your view, how does the German deep tech scene and Berlin in particular compare with the American market in terms of innovation, funding, and commercialization?

We often look to the U.S. with envy, but the reality is only a handful of American universities are truly good at spinning out deep tech. Institutions like TUM in Munich are already outperforming most of them.

Europe has a ton of potential, especially with the amount we invest in research. But the U.S. is better at funding, faster at commercializing, and corporates are more used to working with startups. Plus, the U.S. government actively buys from startups. In Germany, we’ve got the billionaires, but we need more of them backing innovation.

From your experience as a Cupid Investor, what qualities or trends do you look for in AI startups that make them stand out in both the German and American markets?

I'm drawn to teams with real domain depth - founders who know their niche better than anyone, and who have access to data or distribution others don’t.

In AI, we’re especially looking at startups with creative go-to-market strategies, because having great tech isn’t enough. Airbnb’s early Craigslist trick is the classic example. Founders who find creative, scrappy ways to grow—that’s what gets my attention.

Looking ahead, what emerging technologies or sectors within AI and deep tech do you believe will define the next wave of innovation in Berlin and beyond?

Dual-use tech is going to be big, especially with Europe ramping up defense budgets. Green tech and sustainability are also still wide open.

One of the biggest opportunities is in unlocking siloed data—securely—for AI. There’s so much potential trapped in institutional systems. AI will be the accelerator that pushes every other field forward, not just a category on its own.

Thank you for your time.